Corbett: Train Kids For The Jobs We Have, Not The Jobs They Wish They Had.

Here’s A Note To Pennsylvania’s ...
... current and future college students: If Republican Tom Corbett wins
the 2010 govenror’s race, you could end up studying a lot less Robert Frost and a whole lot more Rosie the Riveter.

With Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate parked at 9.2 percent in June, the GOP gubernatorial nominee said this afternoon that he wants to “align education with opportunity,” by having students train for the jobs that in-demand from employers.

Corbett, the current state attorney general, made his remarks on the campus of Central Pennsylvania College, a 1,200-student school that primarily trains students for professional and technical careers.

With jobs topping the list of voters’ concerns this campaign season, turning out skilled workers is one of the keys to jump-starting the state’s economy, Corbett said.

“Development of an educated workforce that meets the demands of the marketplace is the most critical element to ensuring the economic vitality of Pennsylvania,” he said.

Corbett’s observations that the extension of unemployment benefits might serve as an incentive for some of the unemployed to stay home netted him a steady stream of criticism last week from his Democratic opponent and newspaper editorialists.

One student, Dara Smith, 30, of Sunbury, Northumberland County, told Corbett she agreed with his statements “wholeheartedly.,” before going on to ask whether he had a plan to make it easier for single parents to juggle the demands of work and family.

Taking questions from reporters, Corbett had sharp words for Democratic nominee Dan Onorato, who spent much of last week accusing Corbett of being out of touch with the needs of working Pennsylvanians.

“He’s doing what he’s been doing since the [May 19 primary], he’s been attacking, attacking, attacking,” Corbett said. “He’s been negative the entire time and he hasn’t put out anything positive about what he’s going to do. And I would think the people of Pennsylvania are looking to see what candidates believe they can do, what they want to do and what the future of Pennsylvania is going to be.”

“Why doesn’t he just agree to debate Dan Onorato and then can both talk about the issues?” Herman asked.

Onorato, the chief executive of Allegheny County, has challenged Corbett to a series of 14 debates in the lead up to the November general election. Corbett has said he’s willing to face Onorato, but he shot down the challenge for 14 debates.